On the day we left Fougères, we drove up to Mont St-Michel, which is located right on the border between Normandy and Brittany, north and slightly west of Fougères.
Mont St-Michel is technically the name of the tidal island upon which the now-famous monastery sits. The island has been used as a strategic defensive fortification since ancient times and was especially useful in France's ongoing struggle against England. In the 8th century, Aubert, the bishop of nearby Avranches, had a vision in which the Archangel Michael is said to have appeared to him and commanded him to build a church on the island. Thus, the monastery was founded and named after the archangel, Saint Michel.
Over the years, Mont St-Michel became somewhat of a symbol of French resistance and nationalism as it repeatedly foiled and defended against the attacks of the English. In 1067, the monastery lent its support to William the Conqueror in his claim to the throne of England and then continued to frustrate the English by remaining impenetrable and fending off their many attacks throughout the Hundred Years War (c. 1337-1453).
Although the history of the place is rich and fascinating, what is really impressive is the building itself. It literally rises out of the bay on this tiny, rocky outcropping, majestic and architecturally astonishing. I can't really explain how it was built, because it's too complicated and frankly a little too boring for me to waste time on here, but if you're interested, the Catholic Encylopedia has some interesting information - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10551a.htm.
Anyway, that's probably more information than you wanted or cared to know and I'm assuming you would prefer to look at some photos.
Below the monastery and the church, a small town winds its way around the base of the island.
Atop the island sits the abbatial church and the cluster of buildings called La Merveille (the Marvel) where the monks lived and worked (hence, the title of this post, which means "a real marvel." Get it? Oh, the cleverness of me! – 10 points to whoever can tell me what that's from...)
The 1000-year-old abbey church
The cloister.
Spooky stairwell.
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